A large greenspace in Marple Township is in danger of becoming yet another black mark, writes Rick Kauffman of the Daily Times.

That black mark would be the parking lots to the proposed Cardinal Crossing Development project that — instead of the green space now behind Don Guanella Village — would turn the 213.3-acre plot to a massive commercial and residential complex.

According to Kauffman, despite the promised 2,561 new jobs and improvements to local infrastructure, not all residents are happy.

Last weekend, two dozen residents and supporters across township lines met in a parking lot adjacent to the proposed building site, where businesses have already left vacancies in the plaza, to tour the hiking trails that cut through the Marple Greenspace they intend to save.

“This is referred to as a ‘scrub forest,’ because that’s what you see from Sproul Road,” said Broomall resident Annette Sophie Reese, whose own property on Williamsburg Drive was designated a small wildlife preserve for its resident fox, opossum, pheasant, and white-tailed deer.

“There’s a huge oasis of green here, and I don’t think people see that in the proper perspective.”

According to Kauffman, the hike was organized by the Save Marple Greenspace committee of volunteer residents who are imploring the public and Marple commissioners to urge Delaware County Council to establish an open space bond on the November ballot, which would enable county and state funds to be allocated for preserving the area for public use.

While many contend that an increase in local property taxes may be necessary to establish a publicly utilized park, the benefits outweigh the costs they argued.

Click here to read more about the Marple Greenspace in the Daily Times.